I've often wondered how are comics made. Do the people draw the full picture for each panel then crop it digitally to fit in? How is the page layout decided? How has the technique changed with the innovation of digital technology?

There are many different ways for producing comic art.As far as I'm aware, in the US, the artist gets the script, draws it in pencil, shows the editor. Changes (if necessary) are made. The strip is lettered and then given to an inker who puts black ink on it. Then a colourist colours stats of the artwork for the engraver. That's the old way anyway. These days I suspect the artwork maybe worked up in full colour (like Frank Bellamy, Ron Embleton and Mike Noble did in TV21) and then printed. The best way to show you is via an unashamed plug for my own work, which you can see if you go to www.glennbfleming.com. You'll see some stuff on there and it will show you the way I work. No doubt other artists will approach the page in a different way. I find the best way to pencil is to draw all the panels on the page at the same time, moving around the page; get the composition going throughout the page and then render the drawings at the same time - moving through the panels tightening up on on heads, arms, backgrounds etc. That way, the whole page is 'one' drawing. If you spend all day drawing one panel, then the next, the drawings are different and don't run smoothly. Or something like that!!

The best way to create comics is to plot out the sequences on rough paper first, getting all the info down quickly, putting it aside and refining it later [erasing awkward poses/strengthening weak characterization etc] Most non-artists make the assumption that drawings are flawlessly created in one stage: I find the opposite to be true.......the best stuff arrives by putting down spontaneous roughs first, retaining this essence by tweaking it later, and inking it up carefully later on. But seldom ever in one stage.....it's best to look at the roughs objectively later, I find.

Common sense also comes into it: plotting out the elements so they 'read' easily, leaving dead space for word balloons, etc, there is a lot to consider when planning out a comics page. Experience is the only way to learn these techniques......even the very best comics artists are constantly learning about their craft.

While I can see where you are coming from with regard to roughs first - the greats like Kirby and Ditko went straight on the board. They didn't have the time for layouts. Roz Kirby told me that when she watched Jack draw, it was like he was tracing it;like he could see it on the board already. I do appreciate, though, that we're not all like Kirby and Ditko and that rough as a good way to begin...